Has anyone ever done laughter yoga?

Think I’d prefer real laughter, but saying that would try anything once ..

I tried a laughter yoga class about a year ago via Zoom. It seemed very odd and forced. I felt rather self-conscious doing it even though I was alone in the room and no one could see me! I Iike yoga and pilates and love laughing but can't see much point in combining them. I'll stick to my weekly pilates class and lots of laughter via comedy programmes such as last night's "Have I Got a Bit More News for You" - brilliant. Went to bed very happy and relaxed.

I'm a fully trained and qualified laughter yoga therapist (although I've never tried to market classes because there's already a group running in my area).
I took the qualification because I recognised how much better and happier I felt after meeting with my sister and belly laughing at life and wanted to understand why that was. There is strong scientific evidence suggesting that simply
pretending to laugh, even when you don't feel like it, stimulates endorphins and lifts mood, albeit temporarily. Your body doesn't know your laughter is not real, even if your head does. Try it out at home for yourself before you knock it! Yes, you may feel a bit daft, but it works.
The course itself was an in depth look at why it works and was very interesting, but yes, I fully understand that folks are sceptical that something as simple as pretending to laugh can raise your mood.
Yet it does.
Oh, and the 'yoga' part of the title is because laughing for a period of time helps to activate your stomach muscles. Don't believe me? Think about how much your tummy hurt after you had a genuine belly laugh with friends...

I would if I could only remember the last time I laughed...

I haven’t done it, but my daughter did a session via zoom with her girl guides and Ranger (ages between 11 and 18) group during lockdown.
After everyone got over the initial “feeling silly” it was a very successful experience- and just what everyone needed. Give it a go- if you don’t like it, don’t do it again.

My friend runs a Laughing Yoga session. People seem to love it. Mind you she has a really infectious laugh, which probably helps

pascal30

I tried it many years ago and felt very uncomfortable, it felt fake and contrived..

That’s exactly how I felt when I tried it a few months ago with a large group of women. I think I have a good sense of humour, but I don’t like forced laughter. Just not funny, sorry. Not at all therapeutic to me, but if some find it beneficial, then that’s good for them. I found it embarrassing and awkward.

Methinks I could do with some of that.

That’s how I’d feel honeyrose embarrassed and awkward and if I’d walked into some crazy place.

I’ve done it. It’s not yoga at all, they get you doing things in a group, some of which is funny. Even trying to laugh is very good. It’s good for a laugh 😆 🤣🤣🤣

I did this on holiday and to my surprise loved it. For days after every time I met someone else from the class we couldn't stop laughing. I am doing the training in June and hope to run groups for my local u3a, but I won't call it yoga because that will put people off.

I first came across this in India at Varanasi n the banks of the Ganges. It was delightful seeing a large group of people at dawn all laughing. It was totally infectious. I attended a laughing workshop at the WOMAD festival a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It set me up for the day.

Pretty sure it’s a game we played at home as kids !
First one to break and laugh out loud was “it” but we were all laughing and rolling around anyway so nobody cared except my dad who got fed up with us all and wondered if we had all just gone bonkers.

I did it a few years ago. It was great fun !!

Yes I did it in Vietnam with a group of very friendly Vietnamese people. My friend and I didn’t speak Vietnamese and they didn’t speak English but the result was hilarious and despite language difficulties we all laughed and hugged at the end and it was a joyous experience

I organised a session for our group which I chair. The instructor was hilarious and you couldn't help laughing naturally although it took a bit to get used to it. It is definitely outside most peoples comfort zone, but once you let go and decide to enjoy it, it is very liberating and great fun. there was 25 of us and only 2 of them found it "childish". I am always willing to try anything so this was another tick on the bucket list. I has however nothing whatsoever to do with yoga which I have practised for years.